The News Agents

Latest Episodes:

Does anyone care what Gary Lineker tweets? Dec 13, 2023

Show notes

The incoming chair of the BBC, Samir Shah, has suggested that Gary Lineker may have breached BBC guidelines with his 'ad hominem attacks' on two Conservative MPs.

It was only two months ago that the BBC drew up its new social media guidelines - Do they make sense? Does Lineker care? And how much is the corporation responding to pressure from the right wing papers? Later - Mark Drakeford is stepping down as Wales First Minister - and is Rishi out of trouble now after winning last night's Rwanda vote?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

This week on The News Agents USA: Anti-Semitism and academic freedom: what’s happening on US college campuses? Dec 13, 2023

Show notes

Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.

Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player.

Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

How has Sunak got himself into this mess over Rwanda? Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

Rishi Sunak faces a crucial vote tonight in the Commons over his new Rwanda bill. It's not proving to be an easy week with his party split over whether the bill goes too far or indeed that it does not go far enough.

So just how did the Prime Minister get himself into a position where his whips are scrambling at the last minute to get this vote passed?

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Is the Tory right about to kill Rishi's Rwanda bill? Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

Rishi Sunak is in a dark room in Paddington talking about the decisions he made as Chancellor to the covid inquiry.

Meanwhile, various huddles of Tory MPs are meeting to decide whether or not to vote through the key Rwanda bill tomorrow, one backbencher, the ERG leader Mark Francois, has told the government to rip it up and start again. We ask former deputy chair of the party Paul Scully if Rishi could lose the vote.

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Delusional, scandalous and snobbish: Tory PMs according to John Bercow Dec 08, 2023

Show notes

In an extended interview, Lewis Goodall speaks with the former speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow.

They discuss his difficult relationships with various Tory PMs (Cameron, May and Johnson), his switch from the far-right to the centre left, the bullying allegations that ended his political career. Plus, the TV show Traitors. He's in the next series.

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to:

https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Is Rwanda about to bring Rishi Sunak down? Dec 07, 2023

Show notes

An impromptu Prime Minister's press conference this morning raised more questions than it answered.

Rishi Sunak was responding to the resignation of Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick last night - which blindsided the government - and left the PM defending his Rwanda policy and promising he would disapply human rights law to get it through. Today - a stark message for those in the party trying to cause trouble - from Tory backbencher and 1922 committee stalwart Sir Charles Walker - who joins us on the show.

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to:

https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Boris Johnson: the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth Dec 06, 2023

Show notes

Boris Johnson’s appearance before the Covid Inquiry always had the feeling of the end of season pre-Xmas finale. It began with protests from the bereaved - who Johnson had avoided by arriving early.

He offered his apology , insisted the UK death rate had been comparatively normal, and couldn’t quite explain what if anything he thought he’d got wrong.

Later- Suella in the Commons. What was that speech about?

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to:

https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Will you have to be rich to marry a foreigner under the new immigration rules? Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

The Home Secretary will bring in tough new rules to curb legal migration next Spring.

Workers will be required to earn nearly forty thousand pounds to come here. Care workers will be exempt but won’t be allowed to bring a loved one. What will the unintended consequences be? And can we afford it ?

Later, the Rwanda policy is looking for a defibrillator. What does the government have in mind?

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

This week on The News Agents USA: What will a second Trump term actually look like for America? Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.

Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player.

Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

Why is Rishi Sunak less popular than Liz Truss? Dec 04, 2023

Show notes

The Conservative Party has lost half a million voters since their October party conference - according to a brand-new poll of polls.

They suggest Rishi's personal popularity is now lower than... Liz Truss.

Why is this happening and is it reversible or terminal?

Which political direction will it pull the PM in?

And later who is Keir Starmer talking to when he warns Labour will not be making big spending plans - and confesses his admiration for the controversial Margaret Thatcher?

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to:

https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com